NVIDIA Mellanox® MTUSB-1 Kit | USB to I2C Programmer & Firmware Recovery Tool
(Mellanox USB-I2C/IO Conversion Board)
The NVIDIA Mellanox® MTUSB-1 — also referred to as the Mellanox USB-I2C/IO Conversion Board — is the official USB-to-I2C programming and debugging interface used for low-level access to Mellanox/NVIDIA networking hardware. This tool enables engineers to perform firmware recovery, EEPROM programming, hardware bring-up, and out-of-band diagnostics on ConnectX adapters, BlueField DPUs, and Mellanox switches.
It is the standard field engineering tool used when a device is not detected via PCIe, has corrupted firmware, or requires direct I2C access for restoration.
Key Features
Direct I2C Access for Low-Level Hardware Control
Enables communication with the device’s I2C controller for EEPROM access, board-level diagnostics, and manual firmware flashing when normal methods fail.
Essential Firmware Recovery Tool
Supports unbricking adapters and switches using Mellanox Firmware Tools (MFT), including:
mst start
mst status
flint -d <device> -i <fw>.bin burn
mlxfwmanager
Ideal for situations where devices are missing in BIOS, not recognized by the OS, or fail to initialize.
Full Out-of-Band Management
Bypasses PCIe, NVMe, or network interfaces and provides direct hardware access — crucial for development, validation, and deep debugging.
Complete Cable Kit Included
The MTUSB-1 package contains every cable needed for immediate deployment:
MTUSB-1 USB-I2C/IO Conversion Board
USB-A to USB-B cable (1.8m)
9-pin male-to-male I2C cable (1.5m)
Two 9-pin to 3-pin converter cables (0.3m each)
Supported Hardware Matrix
| Hardware Family | Supported Models | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ConnectX-3 / 3 Pro | MCX3xxx | Full I2C access, EEPROM programming |
| ConnectX-4 / 4 Lx | MCX4xxx | Common for firmware recovery |
| ConnectX-5 / 5 Ex | MCX5xxx | Most frequently unbricked with MTUSB-1 |
| ConnectX-6 / 6 Dx / 6 Lx | MCX6xxx | Required when PCIe enumeration fails |
| ConnectX-7 | MCX7xxx | Fully supported for NDR generation cards |
| BlueField-1 | MBF1xxx | Supports BMC/I2C bring-up |
| BlueField-2 | MBF2xxx | Essential for deep troubleshooting |
| BlueField-3 | MBF3xxx | Development and debug environments |
| Spectrum / Spectrum-2 / Spectrum-3 / Spectrum-4 | SN2000–SN5600 | Switch PCB-level I2C access |
| Quantum HDR / Quantum-2 NDR | QM8700 / QM9700 Series | Used for switch bootloader recovery |
This tool is widely used across enterprise clusters, hyperscale AI environments, and OEM hardware labs.
Primary Use Cases
Firmware Recovery / Unbrick Operations
Restore corrupted firmware
Re-flash EEPROM regions
Bring devices back from “PCIe not recognized” states
Board-Level Debugging
Access I2C memory regions
Verify power rails and device states
Test hardware during manufacturing or refurbishment
Switch Bring-Up & Testing
Access boot ROM on Quantum/Spectrum switches
Debug early bootloader failures
OEM & Development Environments
Used by system builders and validation teams for debugging early silicon, prototypes, and custom boards.
Software Requirements
Mellanox Firmware Tools (MFT) – Linux / Windows
Required tools include:
mst
flint
mlxfwmanager
mlxconfig
Windows Driver (Mandatory)
The MTUSB-1 uses the Diolan MTUSB driver.
Download from: www.diolan.com
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model | MTUSB-1 |
| Internal Name | Mellanox USB-I2C/IO Conversion Board |
| Interface | USB 2.0 to I2C |
| Purpose | Firmware programming, debugging, EEPROM access |
| OS Support | Linux, Windows |
| Required Tools | MFT suite (mst, flint, etc.) |
| Included Cables | USB-B, I2C 9-pin, 9-pin to 3-pin adapters |
Quality Assurance
Professionally tested for full operation
Verified to communicate correctly with all supported devices
Securely packaged for safe international shipment
Payment & Shipping
Payment: PayPal, credit card, bank transfer
Delivery: 8–13 days international shipping
Returns accepted; buyer covers return shipping
Why Choose T.E.S IT-SOLUTIONS?
T.E.S IT-Solutions provides high-performance NVIDIA Mellanox networking hardware, including ConnectX adapters, BlueField DPUs, Quantum/Spectrum switches, DACs, AOCs, and specialized engineering tools such as the MTUSB-1.
All equipment is fully tested, professionally refurbished when applicable, and backed by our compatibility guarantee. We support data centers, HPC labs, AI clusters, enterprise IT teams, and system integrators worldwide.